In the 30-minute qualifying session at Le Mans, a total of 21 prototypes in the top Hypercar class delivered an exciting battle for best times. Two Porsches from the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team made it into the Hyperpole session on Thursday.

While Frenchman Julien Andlauer manoeuvred the No. 5 963 into the two-part Hyperpole race early on, his brand colleague Felipe Nasr finished in the top 15 in the No. 4 sister car on his last timed lap. In the number 6 race car, Kévin Estre set the fourth fastest time. However, the vehicle was subsequently moved to the end of the hypercar field because it fell below the prescribed minimum weight.

Qualifying

In bright sunshine and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, qualifying developed into a heat battle. Especially in the top class Hypercar, things got hot on the 13.626-kilometre Circuit des 24 Heures. At the top of the 21-car prototype field, race cars from four different manufacturers took turns.

Only the top 15 finishers in the 30-minute qualifying session will advance to Thursday's Hyperpole session in the new qualifying format of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Former Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer was able to secure his progress early on: the number 5 Porsche, which the Frenchman shares with his compatriot Mathieu Jaminet and the Dane Michael Christensen, was classified in sixth place. Her teammate Felipe Nasr had to fight harder: The reigning IMSA champion heaved his 963 to 14th place shortly before the end of the session. Due to the relegation of the sister car with the number 6, the Brazilian moved up to 13th place together with the Briton Nick Tandy and the current FIA Formula E World Champion Pascal Wehrlein from Germany.

"We have fallen short of the minimum weight prescribed by the regulations for our race cars with the number 6 car. For this reason, the car was moved to the end of the hypercar field. We're now concentrating on preparing for the race," says Urs Kuratle, Vice President Factory Motorsport LMDh. "In the fight for pole position, we still have two more irons in the fire and hope for a top result tomorrow."

"Julien made it safely to the next lap with his Porsche, Felipe had some trouble with the front tyres," explains Jonathan Diuguid, Executive Director Porsche Penske Motorsport. We will improve our Porsche 963 even further in the run-up to the big race. We also want to prepare Pascal Wehrlein even more intensively for his upcoming Le Mans debut in the coming practice sessions with a few long runs."

Neel Jani took up qualifying in the Porsche 963 fielded by the Proton Competition customer team. The Swiss finished the session in 19th place. From this position, the No. 99 car will start the race on Saturday at 16:00.

Ryan Hardwick brings Manthey 1st Phorm's 911 GT3 R to the Hyperpole

In the LMGT3 class, the amateur drivers had to compete in qualifying. At the wheel of the No. 92 car entered by Manthey 1st Phorm, Ryan Hardwick put in a strong performance. The American brought the up to 516 kW (565 hp) nine-eleven to third place and thus into tomorrow's Hyperpole session. The two identical race cars of the Iron Dames and Manthey finished in 19th and 20th place. They are not allowed to enter the Hyperpole session with it.

New Hyperpole format promises spectacle in the fight for pole position

The hunt for the best grid positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place in a new format this year. Tomorrow, Thursday, the Hyperpole session starts with the two car categories LMP2 and LMGT3 at 20:00. After 20 minutes, the eight fastest race cars in each of these two classes move into the second section, the so-called Hyperpole 2. This 15-minute session is about the best starting positions. The Hypercar class, in which three Porsche 963s of the Porsche Penske Motorsport works team will fight for overall victory, will also compete twice, but from now on the prototypes will have the track to themselves – this is intended to prevent obstructions or time losses by vehicles from the slower classes and to enable top times. From Hyperpole 1, the top ten move into the second section. The final shootout of the top 10 for pole position also lasts 15 minutes.

Program on Thursday, June 12

14:45 – 17:45: Free practice
20:00 – 20:20: Hyperpole 1 (LMP2/LMGT3)
20:35 – 20:50: Hyperpole 2 (LMP2/LMGT3)
21:05 – 21:25: Hyperpole 1 (Hypercar)
21:40 – 21:55: Hyperpole 2 (Hypercar)
23:00 – 00:00: Free practice

The race on TV and stream

In Germany, the free TV channel Nitro from the RTL Group and the sports channel Eurosport will broadcast the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A paid live stream and live timing are offered by the official apps of the FIA WEC and the Le Mans organizer ACO. The 93rd running of the endurance classic starts on Saturday, 14 June at 16:00 local time (CEST).

Drivers' comments on qualifying

Julien Andlauer (Porsche 963 #5): "Sixth place and only seven tenths of a second behind the absolute top time – we can live with that. My lap was okay and the car felt good. We still have some potential for improvement, both with the 963 and on my side in driving. We'll start with two Porsches in the Hyperpole: Tick it, done."

Felipe Nasr (Porsche 963 #4): "I'm happy that we made it into the Hyperpole at the last moment – that was important for the entire squad of our No. 4 car. Especially in braking zones and in the top speed sections, we lose time. We already have some ideas that should help us move forward."

Ryan Hardwick (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): "On test day, our 911 GT3 R ran very well balanced and fast. Unfortunately, our race car didn't feel so good in today's free practice. But our team from Manthey turned the tide magnificently and made the perfect changes to the setup. In qualifying, the nine-eleven was really good again – that's how a Porsche has to drive at Le Mans! I'm very happy that I was able to take us to the hyperpoles. Now I'm curious to see how my colleagues will do tomorrow in the two sessions."

Results Qualifying

Hypercar class:
1st Stevens/Nato/Lynn (GBR/FRA/GBR), Cadillac #12, 3m 22.847s
2nd D. Vanthoor/Marciello/Magnussen (BEL/ITA/DNK), BMW #15, + 0.040s
3rd Pier Guidi/Calado/Giovinazzi (ITA/GBR/ITA), Ferrari #51, + 0.316s
6th Andlauer/Christensen/Jaminet (FRA/DNK/FRA), Porsche 963 #5, + 0.697s
13th Nasr/Tandy/Wehrlein (BRA/GBR/DEU), Porsche 963 #4, + 1.737 seconds
19 Jani/Pino/Varrone (SUI/CHL/ARG), Porsche 963 #99, + 2.680 seconds

LMGT3 class:
1st Al Harthy/Rossi/K. van der Linde (OMA/ITA/RSA), BMW #46, 3m 56.875s
2nd James/Drudi/Robichon (GBR/ITA/CDN), Aston Martin #27, + 0.208s
3rd Hardwick/Lietz/Pera (USA/AUT/ITA), Porsche 911 GT3 R #92, + 0.380s
19th Martin/Bovy/Frey (FRA/BEL/SUI), Porsche 911 GT3 R #85, + 3.151s
20th Au/Bachler/Hartog (HKG/AUT/NLD), Porsche 911 GT3 R #90, + 3.575 seconds

All results at fiawec.alkamelsystems.com.